News, sport and entertainment from the Bournemouth Echo and Dorset Echo.

Help sought after floods

From the Echo, first published Thursday 25th Jan 2001.

A PLAN to ask the Government to pay compensation to flood-hit homeowners in West Dorset was backed despite strong opposition.

West Dorset district councillors hit out against a plan to land the taxpayer with a huge bill for flood and landslip damage suffered by householders because they said they should have adequate insurance to pay for it themselves.

At an environment committee meeting councillors were urged to support a letter from chairman Don Mildenhall to the Local Government Association, asking the Government to provide support for the victims of natural disasters.

Coun Stephen Friar, who is not a member of the committee, said: "To be brutal, anyone who has bought a house in an area prone to flooding cannot reasonably expect the taxpayer to compensate them.

"There is an expression, buyer beware, and people who make a conscious, informed decision to live in an area such as Lyme Regis should be aware of the potential problems."

But Dr David Evans, director of planning and environment, said: "It is the responsibility of the purchaser to ensure his house is protected and insured but the problem was these were exceptional circumstances."

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